Playback options and settings
There are a number of playback options available in HBO Max.
Which device are you using?
To see your playback options, tap the screen when you're watching something.
Tap the Play/Pause button (middle of the screen) to toggle between play and pause.
Tap the skip button beside the Play/Pause button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds.
The progress bar shows you where you are in what you’re watching. You can tap anywhere on the bar, or tap and drag your location (the dot). The elapsed time appears in the left corner and the total time appears in the right corner.
To adjust the volume, use the volume buttons on your phone or tablet.
You can use Picture in Picture to watch HBO Max while you use other apps on your iPad or iPhone. Picture in Picture is available on the following devices:
- Apple iPad (with iOS 9+)
- Apple iPhone (with iOS 14+)
Here’s how to use Picture in Picture:
- When you're watching something, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen (the Go Home gesture on iOS). What you’re streaming shrinks and continues to play.
- Start another app. When you do this, the playback window stays on top.
- Tap the Play icon (triangle) to continue watching.
To learn more, see Picture in Picture on iPad or Picture in Picture on iPhone.
TYou can use the Pinch-to-Zoom gesture to make shows and movies fill the screen on your Android or iOS device. To do this, move 2 fingers apart to zoom in and together to zoom out.
Watching shows and movies while zoomed in may cause the video to appear cropped.
Options at the top right of the screen
Tap the Google Cast button to stream HBO Max from your phone or tablet to your TV. To learn more, see Cast to your TV using Chromecast.
Tap the AirPlay button to stream HBO Max from your iOS device to your AirPlay-2 compatible device. To learn more, see Stream using AirPlay.
Tap the Audio and Subtitles button (speech bubble) to customize the subtitles, captions, or audio track. To learn more, see Subtitles, captions, and alternate audio.
To see your playback options, click the screen when you're watching something.
Options at the bottom of the screen
Click the Play/Pause button (along the bottom) to toggle between play and pause. You can also press the Spacebar.
Click the skip button beside the Play/Pause button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds.
The progress bar shows you where you are in what you’re watching. You can click anywhere on the bar, or click and drag your location (the dot). The elapsed time appears in the lower-left corner followed by the total time.
Click the Google Cast button to stream HBO Max from your computer to your TV. To learn more, see Cast to your TV using Chromecast.
To adjust the volume, hover your mouse over the Sound button (lower right) and then click and drag the sound level (the dot) on the volume bar.
To mute the volume, click the Sound button (lower right). To unmute, click the button again (the volume returns to the previous level).
You can also use the volume controls on your computer.
Click the Audio and Subtitles button (speech bubble) to customize the subtitles, captions, or audio track. To learn more, see Subtitles, captions, and alternate audio.
Click the Full-screen button (lower-right corner) to expand what you're streaming. To exit full screen, click the button again or press the Esc key.
Here are the playback options you can adjust when watching on your TV:
Play/Pause
When you're watching something, here's how to toggle between play and pause:
Press the D-pad center button on your Android TV remote.
Press the touch surface or the Play/Pause button on your Apple TV remote.
Press the D-pad center button on your LG Smart TV remote. Or, press the Play/Pause buttons below the D-pad.
Press the X button on your PS controller.
Press the D-pad center button on your Samsung TV remote.
Press the D-pad center button on your VodafoneTV remote. Or, press the Play/Pause button above the D-pad.
Press the A button on your Xbox controller.
Fast forward or rewind
While you’re watching something, here’s how to fast forward and rewind:
Press and hold the D-pad right button to fast forward and the D-pad left button to rewind. Press the button again to increase the speed (up to 4x) and press the opposite button to decrease the speed. Press the D-pad center button to resume playback.
Skip Forward/Backwards
Press the D-pad left or right button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds.
Press and hold the left or right side of the touch surface to fast forward or rewind (on your Apple TV remote).
Skip Forward/Backwards
Press the left or right side of the touch surface to skip forward or backwards 10 seconds.
Press the D-pad right button to fast forward and the D-pad left button to rewind. Or, press the Forward/Rewind buttons below the D-pad. Press the button again to increase the speed (up to 4x) and press the opposite button to decrease the speed. Press the D-pad center button to resume playback.
Skip Forward/Backwards
Press the D-pad left or right button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds.
Press the R2 button to fast forward and the L2 button to rewind.
Press the D-pad right button to fast forward and the D-pad left button to rewind. Press the button again to increase the speed (up to 4x) and press the opposite button to decrease the speed. Press the D-pad center button to resume playback.
Skip Forward/Backwards
Press the D-pad left or right button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds.
Press the D-pad right button to fast forward and the D-pad left button to rewind. Or, press the Forward/Rewind buttons below the D-pad. Press the button again to increase the speed (up to 4x) and press the opposite button to decrease the speed. Press the D-pad center button to resume playback.
Skip Forward/Backwards
Press the D-pad left or right button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds.
Press the D-pad right button to fast forward and the D-pad left button to rewind (or the Left or Right bumper).
Restart a show or movie
To start what you're watching over from the beginning:
- Press the touch surface (first-generation remote) or clickpad center (second-generation remote), and then choose From Beginning.
To start what you're watching over from the beginning:
- Go back to the movie or episode description screen.
- Choose the Restart icon (arrow looping backwards). The show or movie will start playing from the beginning.
Progress bar
The progress bar shows you where you are in what you're watching. The elapsed time appears in the lower-right corner followed by the total time.
While you’re watching something, here’s how to use the progress bar:
Press the D-pad center button on your remote, then press the D-pad right button to go forward and the D-pad left button to go backwards on the progress bar.
- 1st Gen Remote: Press the touch surface, then swipe left or right to go forward or backwards on the progress bar.
- 2nd Gen Remote: Press clickpad center, then rest your finger on the edge of the clickpad until a ring icon appears on screen, then rotate clockwise to go forward or counter-clockwise to go backwards.
Press and hold the D-pad right to go forward and the D-pad left to go backwards on the progress bar.
Press the X button on your controller, then press the L1 button to go backwards and the R1 button to go forward on the progress bar.
Press the D-pad center button on your remote, then press the D-pad right button to go forward and the D-pad left button to go backwards on the progress bar.
Press and hold the D-pad right to go forward and the D-pad left to go backwards on the progress bar.
Move the Left stick on your controller, then use the Left or Right bumper to go forward or backwards on the progress bar.
Closed captions and subtitles
To learn more, see Subtitles, captions, and alternate audio.
Skip Intro
When you start watching something, you may see a Skip or Skip Intro button in the lower-right corner of your screen. Choose this button to skip the content that plays before your show or movie. To learn more, see Skip Intro.
See also
